Affiliated Foot Care Center
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Athlete's foot (also known as ringworm of the foot, tinea pedum, and moccasin foot) is a common and contagious skin disease that causes itching, scaling, flaking, and sometimes blistering of the affected areas. Its medical name is tinea pedis, a member of the group of diseases or conditions known as tinea, most of which are dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin, hair, or nails), which in turn are mycoses (broad category of fungal infections). Globally, athlete's foot affects about 15% of the population.
Caused by fungi such as Epidermophyton floccosum or the Trichophyton genus which includes T. rubrum, T. tonsurans and T. mentagrophytes, you come in contact with these in communal areas where people usually go barefoot, such as swimming pools, locker rooms or an infested bathtub or shower. They require a warm, moist environment like the inside of your shoe to incubate.
These itchy fungi can also infect your toenail and may also spread to other areas of your body that tend to be warm and moist. You can prevent this by keeping your feet dry, changing your socks daily when you wear shoes or by remaining barefoot until your feet are completely dry.
Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a fungal infection of the skin that causes scaling, flaking, and itching of affected areas. It is typically transmitted in moist areas where people walk barefoot, such as showers, public pools or bathhouses. Although the condition typically affects the feet, it can spread to other areas of the body, including the groin. Athlete's foot can be prevented by good hygiene, and is treated by a number of pharmaceutical and other treatments.
Athlete's foot causes scaling, flaking, and itching of the affected skin. Blisters and cracked skin may also occur, leading to exposed raw tissue, pain, swelling, and inflammation. A secondary bacterial infection can accompany the fungal infection, sometimes requiring a course of oral antibiotics.
Since you can transmit athlete's foot to other members of your family, it is important that everyone you come in contact with get checked for the fungus.
We can prescribe antifungeal topical creams and sprays to treat athletes foot quickly and give you the relief you need.